Good morning all,

Does anyone have any recommendations for immigration lawyers please.

I lived in Canada for 6 years and recently moved back to the UK. My partner is Canadian and we are common law soon to marry. As far as i can read, i must apply for Spousal sponsorship for PR then apply for an Open work permit once they have what they need. It's all confusing. We intend to marry in Canada but i need to be able to work once i go back with her

According to the IRCC website In Canada spousal sponsorships is showing 23 months if not living in Quebec

Living outside Canada is 15 months and won’t be living in Quebec.

As you are intending to get married in Canada you will arrive as a visitor then you can only apply for a work permit once the AOR (acknowledgement of receipt) letter is received confirming your PR application is being processed.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...rk-permit.html

Processing time for a work permit is approx 191 days. I have no idea how long the time is for an AOR.

You also might run into complications as you will have to satisfy CBSA on arrival that you intend to leave the country as there is no guarantee that the spousal PR application will be approved.

What you want to do and what IRCC will let you do are different priorities so you will need to wait.

I suggest doing a search for Immigration Lawyers in the city you intend to live in. You don’t actually need a Lawyer or an Immigration Consultant to do this and many on here have done the application themselves.

The link below I provided tells you all you need to know about the process and what is required.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...ren/apply.html

If you're common-law then no need to marry, you can apply now.

You should apply outland, inland is really only for those who are in Canada on another type of visa and as FL has said, you run the risk of being refused entry if you try and do that and entering as a visitor if you actually intend to stay permanently.

You really don't need a lawyer unless you have complicated circumstances.

Good luck.

I intend to submit the PR in the uk and get the AOR, Then submit the work permit paperwork whilst still in the UK as processing times are not very long. Once that is (hopefully) accepted. Travel to Canada and either amend the PR app to state now in country or submit a new one.

As you said though. I think i will need to book a return flight so POE has record i will be going back

Is what i have outlined above feasible?

In case you've not seen it already, have a look at this thread - Visiting Canada under Dual Intent / Intending Inland sponsorship - please read

You can't amend the PR app, and if you cancel the outland app then the work permit (which is tied to it) will be cancelled too. You also have to be in Canada on some kind of status to be eligible for the open work permit (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...rk-permit.html).

When are you hoping to move to Canada? Hopefully you'll have enough time to sort it all via an outland application before you go.